Latch mechanism



May 10 1927 J, LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18/1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 10;,1927.

J. LEDWINKA LATCH QMECHAN'I SM Fifed Sept. 18. 1924 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 29 I I INVEIY-YZORUY: mam

ATTORNEY Patented May It), 1927.

- UNlTED STATES Pg'ENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH-LEDWINKA, or 'PHILAZDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, assrenon 1'0 EDWARD G. BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or PHI ADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A eon?- IPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LATCH Mnommrsm.

Application filed September 18, 1924. Serial its. mean.

This invention relates to improvements in latch mechanism of a new type devised by me especially to meet the problems encountered in connection with the doors of closed 5 automobile bodies. The type is exemplified so far as known to me at the present time only in my first filed application. Serial Number 683,144, filed December 28, i923,-

t'or improvements in latch mechanism. The

W present invention consists of an improve ment in the type which I have hereto-tore evolvech as set forth in the recited applied tion.

The prime object of this type of lock is to 15 enable manufacturers to embody in their cars a door window pane of substantially the full width of the door. Stated converse ly, the prime object is the reduction to a veritable minimum of the opaque projection 29 of the combined door post and door rail above the window ledge. This results in material enlargement of the range of vision.

From acoust-ructional point of view, the object is to have the windowpane he as closely against the door jamb as possible, and there-- by to simplify, lighten and cheapen con L struction. These ends Were interfered with and prevented heretofore by' the embodiment of the latch operating mechanism in a unitary structure or the use of latch operating spindles which projected all the way through thedoor either or both the latch operating I mechanism and the spindle lying directly in the path of any window pane whichit might be sought to make substantially equal to the width of the door. 3 According to the-invention of my pending application, I evolved a new type of lock when I divided the latch operating mechanism into inside and outside latch operating devices spaced apart whereby the window pane could be interposed-7; and the coordinating of the separated latch operating devices through an interlocking member in the form of a swinging bolt mounted on the edge of the door and commonly engaged by said separated latch operated devices. This construction enabled me to get the window pane very close to the door rail if not actually up '50 against it. and at the same time to get the door rail fairly closeto its jamb in the closure of the .doorwith-the result that I reand separated latch-operating devices to be ing doors may be co or duccd the opaque projection of the door rail and door post approximately fifty per cent.

The present invention enables me to attain the prime object of the invention to an even greater degree. According to this'present invention, I adapt the bolt or other inter locking member for the two, independent Mt mounted a on the door postinstead of upon the edge 0? the door. but retain each of the two latch-operating devices upon the door.

A number 0t advantages tlow from this improvement. First oi'all by this removal of the bolt or other interlocking member from the-edge ot the door where there is little room, to the post, this meinbermay have its body disposed substantially wholly within the body of the post Where there is ample room, and the space between the door rail and the post may unquestionabl be. maintained at'that minimumconsistent with good clearance for closure. This brings the door closer to the post and reduces opaque projection. Moreover, the bolt being mountcd 6th the post, there is no necessity for outtine the web on the door rail, nor for providing internal clearance for a bolt'which operates through the web. The rail section may therefore be made thinner and the pane may lie actually over against the web of the door-rail. Still further reduction in opaque projection results.

Moreover, since there is ample room in the interior of the post (the post being as a rule wide enough to accommodate the overill .lapot two adjacent doors), design in more generous and more efficient proportions becomes possible, and simplification A results, derived jointly vfrom this fact and the fact that looking members ertaining to adjoindinated and the number ofparts decreased. Marked advantage is derived from the general simplicity of construction of the latch-operating devices. The inside operating device I construct as a simple knife type bolt interldcking with the swinging bolt on the post. The outside 0p crating device I construct like a roll backof the simplest type. Both of these devices engage the bolt or other locking member freely and without the complexity of multi- P t kmla i n. There are thus fewer part;

I tion in plan.

y wae low. Manufacturing cost is lowered and efiiciency is raised.

I shall illustrate and describe that embodiment of myinvention best known to me at the present time- It has the capability of being embodied in a .large number of forms as will be readily discerned upon the full understanding of its character.

Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in front my invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the post and the adjoining doors showing my inven- Fig. 3 is a front elevation of that one of the latch-operating devices in the form of a roll back. taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

v Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the other one of the latch-operating devices in the form of a bolt, and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the intertaken on the locking bolt. a

a Fig. 8 is a plan view of 1a modified form of interlocking bolt, with the post in which it is mounted indicated in outline.

Fig. 9 is a section of the post on the km 9, .9 of Fig. 1. I .The' details of my inventionare shown in Fig. 2 largelyas applied to one door only, but it will be understood that, while so shown and so described'in the main, a similar lock mechanism is to be provided in connection with the adjacent door.

The sides of sedan bodies in general are usually provided with a center post 10 against which thefront and rear doors 11 and 12, respectively, close. The'side walls 13 and 14 of the post. respectively, constitute the door jambs. The door frames comprise vertically-extending jamb'rails 15 and 16. and closing edges 16 and 17 which over-- lap the front face of post 10 and effect a neat closure on the jamb openings or cracks.

IVindow' panes 18 and 19 constitute closures forthe door windows and may be lowered into the lower'body of the door, and raised therefrom suitable mechanism (not shown). I

Above the waist of the body, the only opaque projection in the line of vision forward of the tonneau isfconstituted by posts 10 and the associated door railsand connected parts 15 to 17, and by the front osts of the body. The freedom of vision om the interior of the body is measured by the narrowness of these parts. It has "been possible to make the front posts quite narrow because the front doors have only a hinged engagement therewith and the windshield need not necessarily have a wide frame, but until my evolution of the type of lock to which this appertains, it has not been possible to make the intermediate posts 10, and adjoining parts, sufficiently narrow to enable one to greatly reduce even the section of the front posts without impairing the symmetrical design of the car, thereby detracting from its appearance. Reduction of the posts 10, and adjoining parts, has not been feasible because the lock-operating devices have not been of such form as to permit the window panes 18 and 19 to be raised and lowered through them. It was necessary to support the window panes beyond the borders of the lock-operating device, and this support necessitated wide opaque members above the waist line of the body.

In the application on file, I show a type.

0f lock embodying independent and separated inside and outside latch-operating devices, and window panes supported between them so they can be freely raised and lowered without interfering with the locking functions. .The width of the projected area above the waist line is therefore rendered independent of the latch-operating devices, and dependent solely upon the combined' thickness of the window pane support and jamb rail, such interlocking means as may be provided between. the inside and .outside latch-operating devices, the close- I ness of fit of the door to the jamb, and the actual width of the post 10 itself. The present invention, like the former, not only eliminates the former dependency, but reduces markedly the degree of the latter dependencies.

The latch mechanism of the present invention com-prises an outside latch-operating device 20 and an independently operatable inside latch-operating device 21 spaced therefrom, together with an interlocking member 22 mounted on the post 10. In the embodiment shown. this interlocking member is m the form of a horizontally-swinging bolt mounted on a vertical axis or pintle 23. This axis is located toward the exterior of the post 10 and is provided with an engaging portion 24 which faces inwardly. A spring 25 biases bolt 22 outwardly from the jamb 13. I I

Latch-operating means 21 is also in this embodiment in the formof a swinging bolt. but instead of swinging in a horizontal plane, as does bolt 22, it is mounted on a horizontal axis 26 to swing in a vertical plane, and is operableby handle 27 from the interior of the car to swing the cngaging portion 28 upwardly out of engagement with co-act-ing portion 24 of bolt 22 against the pressure of retaining spring 28". This handle 29. It comprises a normal retracted latch-operating member 30 projectible through an aperture in door rail against. the pressure of a retaining spring to engage bolt 22 and swing the same around its pivot 23 to remove the engaging portion 24 of the bolt from the engaging portion 28 of the interlocking knife type bolt of the inside latch-operating device 21.

Edge supporting means 31 for the win-v 15 dow pane is carried all the way over against door rail 15 and supports the window pane 18 intermediate the latch-operating devices and 21.

Immediately it will be observed that the ill placement of the interlocking bolt 22 upon the post and the arrangement of its body substantially parallel to the jamb 13 enables the door rail 15 to shut very closely upon the jamb when the door is closed. Standard clearance need nev er be exceeded.

terloclzing bolt 22 lies largely within the body of the post 10. Moreover, neither does the door rail 15 have to be cut into to aecommo date interlocking member 22, nor does any provision for the bolt have to be made on the interior or exterior of the door rail: It is entirely feasible to extend the window pane substantially all the way over against the inner face of door rail 15. The window may therefore be made of the maximum dow pane support, thickness of door rail,

door clearance at the jamb, and the jamb wall of the post.

Proceeding further, however I juxtapose the interlocking members 22 of the latch mechanisms of the adjacent doors 11 and 12 in one and the same postlOL The spring 25 is so formed and mounted as tocommonly actuate these interlockingbolts. The width of post 10 is made a minimum consistent 5 with the mechanical strength requiredo'f it.

Thus the combined opaque projection of the two door rails and the intermediate post is ,reduced to a veritable minimum.

Constructively, m invention embodies a number of detailed eatures, many if not all ofwhich contribute toward the great ad- Vance achieved. The entire construction is of metal. The post 10 is of channel section and of pressed steel. The interlocking bolts 69 are pressed steel. The sheet metal body of the bolt has its outer end turned inwardly on a substantially complete circle to form a bearing for the'pintle 23. (See Fig. 7.) The engaging portion 24 is formed by defleeting the body outwardly and then. in

The in-' Clearly this reduces to a veritable wardly to form inner and outer oblique engaging faces 32 and 33. The inner extremity is. again deflected forwardly to constitute a lug 34 positioned to engage the inner walls of the jamb and limiting the forward projecton of the engaging portion, 2a. The edges of the body are turned inwardly to constitute reinforcing and stiffening side Walls'35. The spring 25 is in the form oi" a bow spring facing inwardly oi the body,

with ends socketed between the body of the bolt and its side "Walls 35. The spring therefore requires no other retaining" means. The. axes 23 are fixed to post to close in the angles or corners of the bottom oi? the channel section ot the post. The apertures in the jumbo l3 and i l. through which the bolts project, are of a dimension insuring a close fit of the bolts in them, attaining both neatness in appearance and precisionot op eration. The surfaces of the bolt at each end are substantially concentric with the axis 23, with the result that the aperture is not opened when the bolt is swung. v l The door rails 15 and it? are likewise of sheet metal. They are in the region oil the latch mechanisms, substantially or a docble Z section as distingu mhed from the usual 1 angle section or a channel section. The outermost longitudinal branches oi the 2'. section constitute the overlapping portions 16 and 1? oi the door. The outer translid verse portion 3 6 constitutes the jamb rail surface of the doors. The intermediate loo .gitudinally-entending portion 37 with the angle 31 attached to the y 36 forms a supporting channel torthe window pane l8 and 19. The offset inner transverse portion 38 provides for the accommodation and in teracton of the interlocking bolts-22 and 28, of the latch mechanism. The innermost longitudinally-extending portion 39 constitutes an anchorage forthe inner paneling l0 of the doors. Above the windowledge, )O1- tions 38 and 39 are eliminated, and the oor rail takes theform of a simple Z section as shown in Fig. 9. The window pane is supported between support 31 and section .37. This. phase of my invention results not only in greateconomy in manufacture, but also is an important factor in reducing the upper opaque projeeton of the door rail it self to that minimum consistent with me-. chanical strength.

The inner latchoperating device, 21, is supported jointly from the inner panel and the door rail 15. A supporting lock plate 41 which carries axis 26 is :secured at oneend closely against anel 40. is offset outwardly the thickness 0 section 39 of the door rail to properly position the device 21. then projected along the panel toward the edge of.

lid

the door and at the door rail has its outer portion 39 and the inner body 38 of the 2' section. It is appropriately secured in place by screws or otherwise, and reinforces the rail at this point. The belt 28 projects neatly and accurately through an aperture in the door rail 15, and the lock plate 41, and is strongly braced laterally by the walls of this aperture and securement on its axis 26. Moreover, lower stop 28", constituted by the lower walls of the aperture and an inturned flange on the lock plate 41, retain the bolt 28 in a position on a line between its axis 26 and the engaging portion 24 of bolt 22. So braced, it functions as a keeper in its coaction'with'bolt 22 at all times except those when it is caused to function as a bolt by operation of handle 27 to move it upwardly about its axis. An upper stop 28, struck from lock plate 41, limits the upward movement. The engaging faces of the knife-type bolt 28 are oppositely inclined as respects itsv longitudinal plane whereby when the door is slammed or pushed shut without the use of handle 27, bolt 28 ratchets past the engaging portion 24 of bolt 22 and the door is latched; and whereby when it is latched, the oppositely inclined engaging faces of the bolt 22 and the bolt 28, under the urge of spring 25, prevent lost motion and rattle of -the door. These engaging faces are preferably gomplemental.

The outside latch-operating device 20 is likewise of pressed metal (see Fig. 3). It is built upon lock plate 42 secured by a laterally and outwardly-extending flange screwed or otherwise fastened to body 36 of the door rail. A bridge 44 bears against the outer panel of the door and is mounted upon the lock plate 42. The handle29 is journaled between the lock plate and the body. The retaining plate 45 is interposed between the bridge '44 and the lock plate 42. Latchoperating member 30 is retained against the lock plate by this member 45. The operating member com rises a flat body formedv of two super-pose plates of metal welded or otherwise secured together. A substantially rectangular aperture 46 extends through the body of the plates as shown in Fig. 4. The inner one of them is provided with a lateral extension 47 which is turned back upon itself as shown to form the rounded engaging end 3O which contacts with bolt 22. Within the aperture 46 is mounted on the spindle of handle 29 a roll back 48 ofcam form. This may be of any one of a number of forms adapted to move the operating device 30 in an one of a number of ways, when the operatlng handle 29is turned in either or both directions. I have shown, however, a form adapted to move the operating member 30 only when the handle is turned clockwise, viewed as in Fig; 4. --Th roll back here is provided with oppositely-extending engaging nibs 50' in Figs. 2 andv 4 ieeeeea and 52. Aperture 46 is so formed on the side toward the jamb of the door as to constitute on its walls a vertical engaging face 50, and inclined engaging faces 51 and 52, lying in the corner of the aperture and forming an obtuse angle facing the corner. The roll back has its faces on that side shaped complementally and normally lying contiguous to the faces 50, 51 and 52 of device 30. When it is attempted to operate the roll-back counterclockwise, interlockin en gagement of the faces 50 and 51 precludes movement, but when the operating handle 29 ,is turned clockwise, engagement on faces 50 action which projects operating member- 30- to operate the bolt 22. It is understood, of course, that there is suflicient lost motion and clearance between the parts to permit the roll back to clear the faces 50 and 50, when clockwise rotation is imparted to it, though such lost motion and clearance are not shown in Fig. 4.

Co-acting with the roll back and its retracting spring 53 is an adjustable stop 54 in the form of a screw threaded from the exterior of the device concentrically of spring 53 into a boss 55 carried by the flange 43, of the lock plate 42. Both spring 53 and this adjusting screw 54 engage the member 30 through an upstanding lug 56. The engaging end 47 of member 30 may be projected forwardly only such distance as is measured by the space between the end of the adjusting screw 54 and lug 56 at any time. Limiting the degree of projection of the end 47 of member 80 limits the degree of movement of bolt 22. This accomplishes two ends. It prevents such extreme movement of bolt 22 as may preclude the simultaneous opening of an adjacent door when it is sought to open .bothdoors simultaneously. It also enables the extreme project-ion of member 30 to be not project so far as either to enter the bolt aperture in the post (which would prevent the doors being opened) or to overlap the outer face of the post when it is sought to close it while holding the handle 29 over (which would preclude its closing and mar the face of the post).

A lever 57 is pivoted on the exterior of the retaining plate 45 and has one end projecting through the frontal flange of the latch plate 42 and the door rail 15,v while the opposite end lies adjacent a lug58 projected upwardly from operating member 30. This lever is provided with a depression 59in its under face coacting with a pair of rises 60 on the retaining plate 45 and is borne closely down upon these rises by close securement upon its pivot, so that the resiliency of its body causes it to snap from one rise 60 to the the door, whereupon it can only be opened from the interior through operation of the mentof the dimension of the aperture;

, by these means.

interior latch-operating device 24. Thus a key-controlled mechanism need be provided for but one of the several doors of a sedan body. All of the other doors can be locked Lug 58 is preferably struck from the outer of the plates composing member 30 and is accommodated in the jog in the retaining plate 45 as shown in Fig. 3 whereby it doesnot interfere with movement of member 30 as long as member 57 is in its upper position. Struckfrom the inner plate composing member 30 is a lug 61, inturned through an aperture in lock plate 42, as shown in Fig. 2. This apertureis of such dimension as to enable lu 61 to constitute alimit stop which limits the outward projection of the engaging end 30 of member 30 to apredetermined maximum. This stop functions in case adjustable stop 54 is not used. Lug 56 co-operating with stop 54 is also struck from one of the plates-composing member 30, preferably the upper plate. action with a justable,stop- 54 upper end of the lug 56 engages abutment 56 in the form of a reinforcing late underlying the top of the bridge 44. it is through the co-action of the upper end of lug 56 with the abutment 56 that lug 56 limits the inward travel and sets the normal position of operating member 30. The inner end of the'aperture 'in which lug 61 projects may be utilized to serve the same purpose" by proper adjusti fingthe bridge to the front of the doorand the attachment of dle 29. I

In Fi 8, I show a modification of the i inter-loo 'ng bolt 22 and the projectin re-entrant section 62 0 each depth that there spring 25*. The bolt isniodified by provi ing its outer engaging-face lying between the pintle 23* and the en aging end 24 with a is no danger thatthe angle of'the door-rail formed by sections 36 and 37 v can engage the face of the plate and cause 0 ning of the door in case of extreme relative movement between the doorand the door-post under rough running conditions. Spring y 25, in' this 'embodimenhis freed of all contact with bolt 22" and its pintles23 excepting at its extreme ends which are turned outn addition to co} the escutcheon of ham 1 for engaging said bolt.

wardlya suflicient extent engage in the I bottoms of the pockets within the engaging portions 24" of the bolts.

It will have been seen that the detailconstructional features also contribute a share, albeit a minor share, in the total reduction of the opaque projection in the line of vision. 7

mg member 22 and its ty e may be varied largely. One or more of t m may be used, some of one form and type, some of another. So also the form of the latch-operating device 20 may be varied. So, too, the form and type of the latch-operatingdevice"'2l may be any one of a large number. And changes in the form of the elements themselves may'riseout of these changes of i the main groups of the combination or independently thereof. And of course the application may be made to any form or type r of body construction of the vehicle or other structure to which the invention is applied. The prime objects of the invention, to wit,-

utilization of full width of the window and reduction of the opaque projection of the body parts, are obtained in any case. The,

claims are intended to cover any and, all suchv modifications in addition in the particular embodiment which I havedisclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A latch mechanism comprising a horizontally swinging bolt ada ted to be mount-.

ed'on a. door jamb, a late ing member coacting with said bolt adapted to be mounted on and extendlongitudinally of the door,- and means for operating said bolt also 1 adapted to be mounted on the door.

Screw holes 56" in 56" serve for anchor- 2. Alatch mechanism comprisinga" bolt adaTted-to be mounted on a door jamb, and dua bolt-engaging means, for renderin said bolt inoperative adapted to be operat from the inside and outside of respectively. p

3. A latch mechanism comprising a bolt adapted to be mounted on a door jamb, dual means for rendering said boltinoperative o rable from either the inside or outthe door 7 side'o the door adapted to be carried by-the door and to engage the bolt atpoints laterally spaced apart. V L

be combinationwith a door post, and

a latch bolt mounted thereon, of a door cooperatin with thedoor post, andmeans uponflsaid door at opposite sides 1 0 each other 1 arrange thereof operable independently I in , neaaeaa' 5. The combination with a door post, and a latch bolt mounted thereon, of a door adapted to have a sliding window pane arranged therein, and dual means for engaging said bolt independently of each other located at opposite sides of the door, so that the window pane may be disposed therebetween. v

6. A latch mechanism comprising two separated latch operating devices, one operable from the inside of the door and the other from the outside of the door, and an interlocking member between said devices and with which intermediary said devices co-act, and which interlocking member is adapted to be located on the jamb of the' door.

' 7. A latch mechanism comprising two separated latch operating devices adapted to be operated one from the inside and one from the outside of a door, and an interlocking member engaged by each of said devices and with which intermediary said devices co-act, and which interlocking member is adapted to be located on the jamb of a door-post.

8. In combination, a door, a door post constituting a jamb, two separated latch opcrating devices one on the inside and one on the outside of the door adapted to have a window glass interposed therebetween, and

.an interlocking member mounted on'the post and-with which intermediary said separated latch operating devices co-act to latch and unlatch the door.

9. In combination, a door post constituting a jamb, a door having a Jamb rail substantially arallel to the jamb, laterally spaced latcli g in members projecting through the body of said door rail, an interlocking member on the door post with which intermediary said spaced latch engaging devices co-act to latch and unlatch the door, said latch engaging .devices being adapted to have a windowpane interposed therebetween, the edges of which lie substantially against the body of the door rail.

10. In combination, a door post constituting a jamb, a door having a jamb'rail of sheet metal havin its body substantially parallel to the jam laterally spaced latch engaging devices having engaging members projecting through the body of said'sheet metal door rail, an interlocking member on the. door post with which intermediary said spaced latch engaging devices coact to latch and unlatch the door, said latch engaging devices beingoadapted to have a window pane interposed therebetween, the edges of 'which lie substantially against the body of the door rail.

11. A latch mechanism comprising interlocking latch bolts, one adapted to be mounted on a door and the other adapted engaging devices having en ag-' to be mounted on a door post, together with two operating means one for each bolt, both of said operating means being mounted on the door.

12. A latch mechanism comprising interlocking latch bolts, one adapted to be mounted on a door and the other adapted to be mounted on a door post, together with two operating means, one for each bolt, both of said means being carried by the door, one being operable from the inside oi the door and the other from the outside.

13. In a latch mechanism, a pair of interlocking. latch bolts, and latch operating devices t'or the respective bolts, both adapted to'bc mounted upon a door and in spaced relation to each other whereby a window glass may be raised and lowered between them.

14. A latch mechanism comprising a pair of interlocking latchbolts, one of which is a swinging bolt and adapted to be mounted on the door jamb, andthe other of which 'is adapted to be mounted on the door, and

separate operating means for the respective bolts, both adapted to be mounted on the door.

15. A latch mechanism comprising a pair of interlocking latch bolts, one swinging in a horizontal plane and adapted to be mounted on the door post and the other swinging in a vertical plane and adapted to be mounted on an associated door, together with operating devices for the respective ldiolts, both adapted to be mounted on the cor.

16. In combination, a door, a door post constitutin a jamb, a horizontally swingin" latch bolt mounted on the door post, a dutch operating device including a roll back mounted on the outside of said door, a latch enga ing device comprising a knife bolt mounted on the inside of said door, said door adapted to have a window glass slidably arranged therein between said latch operating devices.

17. In combination, a sheet metal door post of angle section, one face of which-constitutes the door jamb, and a horizontally swinging latch bolt mounted on and operatin through an aperture in said jamb face of the post.

18. In combination, a sheet metal door post of'angle section, one face of which constitutes the jamb and the other the exterior, and an inwardly facing horizontal swinging latch bolt mounted on said post having its outer end hinged in thebend of the post angle, and its inner end projecting through an a erture in the jamb.

19. In com ination, a sheet metal door post of angle section, having one face constituting a jamb and the other the exterior, to ether with a horizontal swinging latch bo t hinged interiorly of said angle and having its engaging end projected through an aperture in the 'jamb.

\ 20. In combination, a door post of chan nel section, the base of which constitutes the exterior of the post and the. sides of which constitute. the door jambs, and juxtaposed horizontally swinging latch bolts hinged interiorly of said channel and having engaging ends projected through apertures in the sides thereof, together with a common latch spring between them.

21. A latch mechanism comprising a bolt, operating means therefor including a laterally projecting lug, and an adjustable stop arranged in the path of movement of said operating means and engaging said lug whereby to limit the degree of operation of the bolt 22. In an automobile do'or construction including a main body adapted to have an extensible portion therein, said main body having a latch mechanism including portions carried thereby respectively inside and outside of the path of movement of said extensible portion, and an interlocking element between the inside and outside portions of said latch mechanism portion lying without the jamb face of the door when the same is closed, said jamb face being provided with an inward ofi'set or recess within which said interlocking element is accommodated when the door is closed.

23. In a latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have anextensible member of substantially the full width of the body of the door adapted for slidable movement in said door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb rail of the door, inside and outside door releasing mechanisms carried by the door on opposite sides of the path of movement of said extensible member, and a device through the intermediary of which said door releasing mechanisms act to unlatch the door, which device is mounted upon the door post and extends across the projected plane of said extensible member whereby the door may be opened and controlled by one hand as inthe usual practice.

24. latch mechanism for an automobile door adaptedito have an extensible member of substantially the full width of the body of the door adapted for slidable movement in said door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb rail of the door,

comprising inside and outside operating mechanisms carried by the door on opposite sides of the path of movement of said exrensible member, and a device mounted independently of the door through the inter mediary of which said operating mecha-' nisms act to unlatch the door, the main body of said device lying closely adjacent the jamb face of the door itself.

25. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible member of substantially the full width of the body said interconnecting device partaking of a movement different in character from the movements of said operating mechanisms.

261A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible member of substantially the full width of the body I of'the door adapted for slidable movement 7 in close proximity to the jamb rail of the door, comprising inside and outside latch operating mechanisms and an interlocking device between said mechanisms, said op erating mechanisms engaging said interlocking device'at points lying respectively on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of the extensible member, and said operating mechanisms and interlocking device being mounted on the door and door post, respectively.

27. A latch operating mechanism comprising two separated latch operating devices adapted to be operated one from the inside and one from the outside of a door, and an interlocking member between said devices, one of said-operating devices coacting with said interlocking member in the fashion of a bolt and keeper and the other operating device engaging said interlocking member to retract the same.

28. In a latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible member slidably arranged therein, a dual operating mechanism carried by the door on opposite sides of the path of movement of said extensible member, and a device through the intermediary of which said operating mechanisms act to unlatch the door, said device being borne on bearings located within the body of the door post.

29. In a latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have a sliding window of substantially the full width of the body of the door, two separated latch operating devices operable from the inside and outside of the door respectively, and an interlocking member between said devices,

said interlocking member having portions located on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of the sliding window, said portions projecting toward the jamb face of the door from the jamb face of the post.

jamb rail of which is rabbetted, comprising dual operating mechanisms located on opposite sides of the door, an interlocking 30. A latch mechanism for a door, the i 'the door, said latch operating mechanism' member interconnecting said operating devices carried by the door post, said interlocking member having a part thereof projecting normally into said rabbet for engagement with one of said operating mechanisms.

31. In a latch mechanism for an automobile door having a stamped metal jamb rail of single thickness against the face of which one edge of a sliding window is adapted to move, inside and outside operating devices located on opposite sides of the path of movement of said sliding window, and an interlocking member between said operating devices, said interlocking member lying closely adjacent the outer face of said stamped metal rail and being carried by the door post.

In a latch operating mechanism for an automobile door having a stamped metal jamb rail of single thickness upon the inner face of which is adapted to have mounted a glass runchannel for a sliding window, a pair of operating members carried by the door, and disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of said window, and an interlocking device between said operating members carried by the door post, said operating members and interlocking device combining to form a latch operating mechanism of substantially U- form embracing said glass run channel.

33. In combination, a door post of channeled section, the base of which constitutes the exterior of the post and the sides of which constitute the door jambs, an associated door having a jamb rail of substantially 2 section upon the inner face of which is mounted a glass run channel, a latch operating mechanism having one element thereof carried by the post, and inside and outside operating mechanisms carried by being arranged such'that it embraces said glass run channel.

34. In combination, a door post of channeled section, the base of which constitutes the exterior of the post and the sides of which constitute the door jambs, a pair of associated doors having jamb rails of sub-- stantially Z sect-ion, the outer branches of said Z sections constituting the outer overlaps of the doors, said overlaps being substantially contiguous at the median plane of the post and the post bein of a width not exceeding the combined width of said overlaps, inside and outside latch operating devices carried by each of said doors, and oppositely pressed interlocking members between said inside and outside operating devices supported on the opposed jamb faces of the door post.

35. In combination with an automobile door adapted to have a sliding window arranged therein of a width substantially of the full width of the door and posts therefor, inside and outside operating mechanisms for a latch bolt disposed on opposite sides of the path of movementof said sliding window, and an interlocking device between said operating mechanisms circumventing the side edge of said path of movement, said interlocking device being carried by raid door post.

36. In an automobile door ,adapted to have a sliding window arranged therein of a width substantially of the full width thercot and a door post, in combination, inside and outside latch operating devices carried by said door, and an interlocking member interconnecting said devices, said member being carried by the door post in such manner that its main body portion lies between said post and its adjoining door.

37. In combination an automobile door adapted to have, a slidable window substantially the full width of the body of the door adapted for sliding movement therein with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb rail of the door, inside and outside latch operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the plane of movement of said sliding window, a door post and an interlocking member carried by the door pot and coacting with the inside and outside latch operating devices in such manner that the door may be unlatched from the outside or the inside.

38. In combination, a door post and an adjoining door, a latch element 'arried by said door post and having a portion thereof projecting within the plane of the jamb rail 01? said door for interlocking engagement with a latch member carried by the door, and a device for actuating said first named latch element also carried by said door but spaced from said last mentioned latch element, whereby to provide for the accommodation of a sliding window in said space.

39. In combination, an automobile door adapted to-have asliding window arranged therein of a width substantially of the full width thereof and a rabbetted jamb rail, a door post, and latch operating mechanisms on opposite sides of the plane of movement of said sliding window, and an interlock interconnecting said operating mechanisms, said interlock being carried by the door post and having a portion thereof projecting into the rabbet of said door'for interlocking engagement with one of said operating mechanisms. i

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

